Chris Pilgrim From Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks Talks Blood Shortage

Chris Pilgrim from Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks (CBC)) spoke with KHOZ’s Around The Table on Wednesday about the blood shortage.

Pilgrim said the situation looks “pretty bleak.” “We monitor our blood inventory and reserve levels daily. For the last several months actually we’ve been really challenged to try to meet the area needs,” he said. They have less than a month supply of all blood types in reserve. He said anyone eligible to give should look for an opportunity to donate blood to the local provider.

They serve patients at 44 area hospitals in southwest Missouri, northwest Arkansas and southeast Kansas. “Your hospital there in Harrison is a user of our donors’ blood.” He said pretty much all of the region uses blood from their donors and no one else. “It’s vital that we get the donations we need to help our friends and neighbors,” Pilgrim said. More information can be found on cbco.org.

The entire interview with Pilgrim is available online on Around The Table’s Facebook Page.